Originally Posted by JDR13
A bugfest? That would be a huge exaggeration. Gothic 3 was the only game in the series that had a significant amount of bugs.

As you already said above that may be true for the fully patched US versions but the German games had tons of bugs when they first came out including really nasty showstopping bugs and everything. PB offered great support back in the day though. At least with Gothic 1 they even let people mail them their savegames and then repaired the file so people could continue playing the game.

Like some corny love story, I first spotted Gothic from across a crowded room. It was the holiday season, and I was in a mall video game store. The cover art grabbed my attention, so I walked over and checked it out.

I don't remember any small talk, but soon we were leaving the mall together. Then we were at my place. Things progressed quickly. Intrigue turned to passion. There was mystery. There was magic.

It was my first time. I was scared. I was alone.

— Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on. But it don't snow here. It stays pretty green. I'm going to make a lot of money, then I'm going to quit this crazy scene. — [Joni Mitchell]

I also had a mad, impulsive love-affair with Gothic, Squeek, and it was good even though perhaps not my first. I knew absolutely nothing about the game when I bought it—I played it all the way through to the end, which for me back then was a big deal—I don't think I'd ever finished an rpg before that except maybe IWD1. Sadly, the magic just wasn't there for Gothic 2…

Hard to believe that nugget about the devs repairing savegames and sending them back—that's dedication to your community.

From an economic view point
Gothic series represent true capitalism, where I can actual "acumulate" slowly and surely; while Oblivion's auto leveling is like the FED's inflationary measure, just as I thought that I received a "raise", prices goes up more.

— "A strong president, means having the strength to resist the temptation of taking all that power isn't yours" - Ron Paul

"If you think the problems we create are bad, just wait until you see our solutions",- Government

getting the snot beat out of you while being sworn at lying huddled on te dirt of the old camp. doesn't get much better, especially when later you and your bestowed learning points wield a hefty two-hander and smack everyone in the gob including the man kor-angar himself.

plus the voice acting rarely gets any better, both the language and style. only gothic could use the term 'brownie points' seriously and make it jive.

Originally Posted by JDR13
Eh? Did you just rush through the main quest or something? I think I spent at least 60 hours playing it my first time.

….and I loved every minute.

As I recall, I paced myself and experimented with various things.

I remember clearing out the old camp by killing everyone, just to see if it was possible.

Then again, I seem to be a "fast" player - and I generally don't exhaust content fully. But I do distinctly remember taking my time with Gothic - but I also remember the 25 hours thing - because I believe the savegames were time/date-stamped.